Master's in Journalism
On-Campus Course Schedule for Summer 2026

Data Visualization

This class is designed to teach students practical skills in visualizing and analyzing cultural and social datasets. Students will be also introduced to other popular tools for creating interactive web-based visualizations.

Health Reporting

Life-saving medical discoveries. Terrifying disease outbreaks. Hotly debated national health policies. Rapid changes in both the media industry and healthcare itself are redefining what it takes to be a successful health journalist in the digital era. This course will emphasize the importance of thinking critically about studies, health policies and the practice of medicine. You will glean these skills by understanding how researchers, patient advocacy groups, and government agencies use – and sometimes misuse – data to make a point or prove a hypothesis. You will learn to apply critical thinking to produce stories that provide scientifically sound, accurate, and effective reporting in clearly written prose. Ethical issues will also be addressed, including the importance of looking for financial conflicts in study funding, medical associations that write clinical guidelines, and non-profit advocacy organizations that promote patient interests or healthcare reform. You will learn best practices in health journalism, including how to navigate public databases of medical studies, how and where to find credible health information, and how to use social media and other strategies to reach out to sources and find anecdotes. This course will also focus on service journalism, providing your audience with accurate information about the medical and health stories of the day with an emphasis on finding a fresh, compelling angle with input from trustworthy experts.

Note: Students must have completed MPJO 501/5001 Reporting and News Writing.

MPS Journalism Capstone

The Master of Professional Studies Journalism degree program culminates in the Capstone. Each student produces a substantive and original reporting project on a timely issue that showcases his/her talents as a prospective journalist. It should be a major work of professional quality that requires extensive legwork, interviewing and research and will become the centerpiece of your portfolio. The Capstone experience is intended to provide students an opportunity to demonstrate that they have the journalistic skills, ethics and initiative necessary to be a professional journalist. The Capstone project is an independent reporting endeavor. Class sessions provide feedback and structure. Group instructors will give you guidance throughout the semester, and your small groups will serve as mini-newsrooms where you will be expected to give each other feedback and support. Successful completion of the MPSJ degree also requires submitting an ethics essay that reflects on your firsthand experience as a journalist. The essay will be graded as one of the assignments in the Capstone class. This is a core course of the MPS Journalism program, and students must earn a “B” (83) or higher to pass the course. Please see the Graduate Student Handbook for more details. Students with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA who receive a final grade of a B- or below may receive one opportunity to retake the course, if approved by the dean.

Note: Registration requires department approval and a manual add by your Program Director. Students must have completed MPJO 500/5000 Ethics, MPJO 501/5001 Reporting, and News Writing, MPJO 505/5003 Digital Essentials, and MPJO 508/5008 Photo and Video Storytelling. This course must be taken in the student's final semester.

MPS Journalism Internship

Internships are a great way for students to gain real-world experiences and network with professionals in the field. Many employers require at least some internship experience to appear on a student’s resume. Taking on an internship while in the MPS Journalism program can help students integrate and enhance the skills they are learning in the classroom with professional, hands-on experiences. Students must participate in the internship according to the guidelines furnished by the employer, and they will be required to submit a weekly 500-word writing assignment reflecting on the successes and challenges of the internship. At the end of each semester, the student’s supervisor must complete an evaluation of the student’s performance, and submit it directly to the MPS Journalism program. ** Students must receive approval from the MPS Journalism program prior to enrolling in the Internship class.

Note: Registration requires department approval and a manual add by your Program Director. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-7951-01 and MPMC 7951-01.

MPS Journalism Internship II

Internships are a great way for students to gain real-world experiences and network with professionals in the field. Many employers require at least some internship experience to appear on a student’s resume. Taking on an internship while in the MPS Journalism program can help students integrate and enhance the skills they are learning in the classroom with professional, hands-on experiences. Students must participate in the internship according to the guidelines furnished by the employer, and they will be required to submit a weekly 500-word writing assignment reflecting on the successes and challenges of the internship. At the end of each semester, the student’s supervisor must complete an evaluation of the student’s performance, and submit it directly to the MPS Journalism program. ** Students must receive approval from the MPS Journalism program prior to enrolling in the Internship class. Note: Extensive, documented academic activity and experiential learning outside of the classroom (min. 6-8 hours per week) is required.

Note: Registration requires department approval and a manual add by your Program Director. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-7952-01 and MPMC-7952-01. The prerequisite for this course is MPJO 7951 internship two class.

MPS Journalism Internship III

This one-credit course is designed to give credit for students doing an internship with an organization that requires them to receive credit. The internships should be substantive and have the goal of providing relevant industry experience, portfolio items or other professional work for students to use when looking for jobs. This course is also meant as a way to help support students who are doing internships. Students are expected to check in every week with the instructor about their experience so that the instructor can give guidance for the internship and for working within a professional organization.

Note: Registration requires department approval and a manual add by your Program Director. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-7953-01 and MPMC 7953-01. The prerequisites for this course are MPJO 860/7951 internship one and MPJO 861/7952 internship two.

Photo & Video Storytelling

Foundation requirement for Journalism majors. This course requires a grade of "B" or better to pass. Additional 150 minute distance learning component required. Course Description: This course is designed to give the student the ability to communicate in the Video Age--whether for television or the web. We call it storytelling to emphasize the communication of ideas, rather than simply the technical knowledge of shooting and editing video. Students will begin by learning how shots work together, how to write compelling scripts, and how to use audio for best effect. Then students will work with professional camera equipment to develop shooting, lighting, and audio skills. The class will also have hands-on instruction in editing techniques using Final Cut Pro. By the end of the course, students should be comfortable in the video storytelling process--from the flash of an idea, to the finished product on the screen, in the field, and in the studio. Students who entered the MPS Journalism program in Summer 2010 and thereafter must complete this class and receive a grade of solid "B" (3.00) or higher in order to graduate.

Note: Foundation requirement for the Journalism Program. This course requires a grade of "B" or better.